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(No ModeL}? I J. M. FAIRFIELD. 7 TYPE BEST FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES No. 389,556.

Patented Sept 18,-"1-888.

N. PETERS, Fhvln-Liihugrlplver, Walhingmn. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT Brion.

JOHN M. FAIRFIELD, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN WRITING MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

TYPE-REST FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 389,556, dated September 18, 1888.

Application filed June 11, 1887.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be-it known that I, J OHN M. FAIRFIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-Rests for Type- IVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to type-rests or typebaskets employed in type'writing machines of the lever class, and has for its main objects to provide a contrivance of simple, cheap, and durable construction, and one in the use of which no noise will be occasioned by the dropping of the type-levers during the use of the machine.

To these ends and objects my invention consists in the novel construction of type-rest hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereoflFigure 1 is a rear elevation of a portion of a type-writing machine containing a type-rest involving my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the type-rest and the arms by which it is secured to the machine. Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 are perspective views illustrating the manner in which the type-rest is preferably constructed; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken at the line a: m of Fig. 2, and on an increased scale.

In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same letter or numeral of reference.

The type-rest is composed of a frame-work or rim, 2, and inwardly-projecting cloth, felt, or other soft material, 3, to act as a cushion or seat for the type-bars 4.

The type-rest, as usual, is of oval form in top view, and is preferably constructed in the following manner: A strip of metal,of the desired length and thickness, is by suitable tools or machinery bent from the flat state shown at Fig. 3 into the curved condition represented at Fig. 4, which in end view or crosssection is in the shape of the letter C. A fillet of cloth, felt, or other suitable material, of about the same length and of the desired thickness and width, a fragment of which is illustrated at Fig. 5, is folded centrallylengthwise and brought into the doubled condition reptherein and properly fastened.

Serial No. 240,974. (No model.)

resented at Fig. 6. The rear folded edge of this fillet is then inserted within the C-shaped strip of metal, and the longitudinal edges 5 5 of the latter forced toward each other and caused to seize or bite upon opposite plies of the folded cloth or felt, &c., and hold the same securely, as illustrated at Fig. 7. The strip of metal, with the cloth or felt thus clamped between its jaws or edges, is then bent around a mandrel, or by other means curved into the oval condition shown at Fig. 2, and the ends of the metallic strip soldered or otherwise secured together at the point 6, thus completing the construction of the type rest proper. v

The type-rest is secured in place in the ma chine by means of horizontally-disposed arms a, of novel construction. Each arm 'is preferably made in the shape shown, and is formed at one end with a flat portion, b, perforated at c for attachment to the frame of the machine by a screw, d. The other end of the arm is also made flat ate, and atthe extremity formed or provided with a hook-like portion, f, which surrounds the upper half of the type-rest. The lower portion of the type rest is surrounded by another hook or jaw, g, from which extends a flat portion or shank, h. In securing the arms a to the type-rest the hooksf and g are made to grasp the rim 2 thereof, the flat portions 6 and It brought face to face, and a rivet, i, is passed through coincident holes In lieu of this rivet, solder or a screw may be used. In addition to the rivet, I prefer to use solderwhere the hooks come in contact with the rim of the' type-rest, and in practice I nickel-plate the rim and the arms a, and thus improve the appearance of the machine.

It will be observed that by my invention is provided a type-rest in which the cushion or seat for the type-levers projects inwardly and is held in place by compression or clamping between the opposite edges of the metallic rim, and that the same may be made to project in toward the middle of the rest to any desired extent. That shown I have found to be suffrcient to prevent the noise which the type-bars have heretofore made in coming to a stop within the type-basket.

The construction of typerest shown, it will be seen, is simple, cheap, strong, and of great ICO durability, owing to the edge of the cloth or felt being presented to the descending typebars. In the prior construction of type-rests it has been the practice to wrap a thin piece of tape or cloth spirally around an oval metal frame-work and present the side or face thereof to the type bars. This covering is comparatively soon destroyed by the type-bars, which, in descending, strike with considerable force.

Although I prefer the two-ply cloth or felt strip, as shown, it will be understood that so far as the main feature of my invention is con cerned a strip of single thickness may be used; and, although I prefer to make the rim 2 in one piece, it may be made of several distinct pieces or sections without departing from the spirit of my invention.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a type-writing machine, a type-rest 20 consisting of a horizontally-arranged curved rim, a curved cushion projecting inwardly edgewise from said rim to receive upon its edge the impact of the falling typebars, and

arms or supports for the attachment of the eon- 2 5 JOHN M. FAIRFXELD.

\Vitnesses:

W. I. Monsu, L. W. HUDSON. 

